Map-display device



Oct.5 1926. 1,602,294

` SVEN WILLIAM NZ SON WIHLJAM MAP DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1926 Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

attain SVEN VJLLIAM N':SON N'IHLJAM, OF MALI/IO, SWEDEN.

' MAP-DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application .leid January 4, 1996, Serial No. 79,232, and in Sweden October 14, 1925. v

This invention relates to al map-display device of the type in which the map extends between a pair of rollers arranged parallel to each other in spac-ed relationship', the map being wound round said yrollers so that it may be unwound from the one roller and simultaneously wound upon the other roller, or vice versa, in order to adjust that visible portion of the map displayed between the rollers.

The object of the invention is to produce a map-display device of the above type in which the map even if of considerable length, always runs correctly and with just the right amount of friction round the rollers and does not tend to wind up crookedly or to become jammed or displaced or even torn. Further the map-display device is constructed in such a manner that it will be most suitable. and convenient for military personnel, touristsand motorists who have to be equipped with maps covering large districts and for whom it is important to be able to locate their position correctly on the map in all weathers and also in darkness. A

The invention is illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through 'the map-display device according to the invention. l

Figure 2 is al top plan view of the same with the casing in section.

Figure 3 shows a transversal section of the device.

The framework of the device, preferably constructed of wood, but also adapted for instance, to be cast ,or pressed in one piece of aluminium, papier-mch or other suitable material, consists of a pair of end walls l and a pair of side members 2 connecting the latter. Somewhat outside of the side members 2 and journalled in the end'walls l are two rollers 3, preferably of wood, the ends of the map being attached thereto in the manner to be more fullydescribed in the following.

The map, designated as 4 and shown with dash-dotted lines in Fig. 3 may be unwound from the one roller and simultaneously wound up upon the other roller, or vice versa, by rotating the rollers 3 by means of knobs 5 fixed to the. endsof the rollers projecting through the foremost end wall l. In order to prevent the map, when it is being unwound or wound up, from tending to run croolredly which may cause crumpling ortearing or jamming at the end walls, the map rollers 3 are thickest at their centres and diminish conically towards both ends. yBy means of this arrangement the map will always have the tendency, when it is wound up, to right itself on the centre of the roller, and this has proved to be of the utmost practical importance. This effect is further assisted by having the end portion la of the map pointed, so that the fastening of the end of themap to the roller is also facilitated in that it will'be quite sufficient for this purpose to thread the pointed end of the map through av longitudinal slit le in the roller, although' of courselother' fixing Vmeans may be employed; The end portion la itself may preferably consist of thin cloth or the lilrewhich is gummed onto the edge of the inap, which latter is generally made xclusively of paper.

llrom the rollers the map is led over the side members 2 which for this purpose are formed as guides. Previously, similar guides, for example'in the 'form of guidev rollers, have been employed in devices of similar kind, but they have been placed in such"a manner that the map has been bent at approximately a right angle or at an' acute angle over the guide members. .'As shown on the drawing the guidemembers accorde ing to the present invention are placed inwardly of their rollers 3', or in other words they are arranged between f the rollers in such a' manner that the map is bent over theguide member at avery obtuse angle. This arrangement in combination with the double-conical map rollers has proved to add materially in obtaining an easy and better guiding an running of the map and in reducing the stresses exerted onl the latter. The same result isfurther obtained by form ing the upper edge 2 of the side members 2, upon which the map glides, of slightly arcuate 'fornifso that it is highest at the` centre portion and diminishes in height to wards the ends,` as clearly disclosed in Fig. l.v In cross section the upper edge of the side membersis rounded o, and theirl inner sides 2* facing each other are preferably convex, as illustrated in Fig. v

The map rollers 3 at their ends projecting from the yend wall l are provided with grooved pulleys 7, preferably arranged onV the-operating knobs 5, and similarly grooved fix) pulleys 8 are journalled on studs on the end wall at a short distance inwardly of the knobs 5. Over each of the pairs of pulleys 7 and 8 is arranged an endless band, preferably in the form of a slightly tension'ed rubber ring 9. rThese rings have proved to form a very effective elastic brake for the map rollers, so that these rollers maintain their set position and always tend to keep the map stretched.

-Between the lower edges of the side members 2 is fastened a plate 10 having a polished surface. This plate together with the convex sides ,2b of the side members 2 forms a suitable light reflector underneath the portion of the map l extendingl from lone side member to the other. One corner of this late 10 is cut and bent as lat 11 to form a liousing for receiving a dry battery for pocket lamps, sai-d battery being` inserted from the front end wall and kept in position by meansoic` a flatA spring 13 fixed to the underneath side of the plate 10. rllhe housing thus formed has further a part 14 bent downwardly against which part one contact piece 15 of the battery 12 abuts. The front end wall 1 is provided with an insulated screw 16 which is adapted to be screwed against the other contact piece 17 o1"- the battery 12 in order to close a circuit containing a couple of incandescent lamps 18 and 19. These lamps are mounted in suitable holders .tixe'd to the inner sides ot the end walls near the two side. members 2. The lames together with the reflector 10 serve to illuminate .from underneath the portion of the map between the side members for facilitating the reading of the map during darkness. n y

The whole frame together with all the above describedelements mounted thereon is inserted in a casing 20, preferably of leather, and is adapted to be withdrawn therefrom. For this purpose the casing is provided at its front portion with an opening which is closed by means of a flap 21 having slits kfor the operating knobs 5 and being further provided with buttons 22 or the like for buttoning the same to the underneath side of the casing. The upper side of the leather casing is provided with an opening which is closed by means of' a transparent sheet 23 of celluloid or the like through which the displayed portion of the map is made visible and may be studied. The whole apparatus is adapted to be carried by a thong over the shoulder in a similar manner as with known map cases. One end of the thong (not shown in the drawing) may be fastened by hook and eye tothe leather encasement.

It is to be noted that the apparatus in the form described above may receive a map A'of several yards length, and for all practical Purposes. the. man may be roundup and 1111- woundon the map rollers as much as desired without the map becoming damaged or jammed or in any way displaced. The mapdisplay'device, therefore, may receive maps covering a whole country in a scale generally adopted for use by motorists or 'military personnel. For example, the inap-display device according to the invention having overall dimensions lOlkSlLZx'lS/S may contain all the road maps for the whole oit Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.` ln order to accomplish this the map be divided up and composed ot sheets or sections arranged to follow each other in such a manner that when the left operating knob, for instance, is turned anti-clockwise, the map will glide from the west to the east and after the eXtreme east part has been reached to the nent section north of the ei:- treme west section just lett, and vice versa when the right 'operating knob is turned clockwise. To iind the desired connection cn the next section, main roads or ,the like are specially marked at the point where it terminates at the edge of a section, and a like mark is setout on the corresponding next section or the section above o'r below atv the edge, where the same main road or the like commences. r)These marks may consist of conspicuous red letters. ln using` the mapdisplay device and when for instance a main road or railway line or the like kterminates at the edge of the displayed section, it is'only necessary to observe the mark set out at this edge and then shift the sections until the same mark appears on the edge opposite to that which one has left, which method ensures that the continuation of the main road or the like is correctly displayed. rllhis prompting means has proved to be of the greatest practical importance.

Although the. subject of the invention has above beenl described in detail with respect to a certain embodiment forming the result of experiments, it is tofbe understcod that the invention is not limited to the details or elements` shown and described, but they may be varied in various respects without affecting the scope of the invention.

What I claim and ydesire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. A map-display device comprising a frameincluding two end walls 'and two side members, double-conical map rollers journalled in the end walls outside of the side members, the side members being rounded oit at the upper edge upon which Jhe map is to glide and the upper edge'in a longitudinal direction being arcuate so that it is highest at its middle portion and diminishes in height towards the ends.

V2. A v map-display deviceV comprising` a frame including two end walls and two side members` having rounded otl" and arcuated upper edges, double-conical map rollers journalled in the end walls outside of the side members and each provided with a longitudinal slit for inserting pointed ends of a map therein, polished plate means fixed to the under side of the side members, the inner sides of the side members facing each other being convex.

3. A map-display device comprising a frame including two end walls and two side members, double-conical map rollers journalled in the end walls outside of the side members, a polished plate iiXed to the under side or" the side members, a pair of incandescent lamps arranged on the inner sides of the end walls inwardly of and near the side members, a corner of the polished plate being cut and bent to form a housing tor a dry battery arranged to supply current tor the lamps.

4. A map-display device comprising a frame including two end walls and two arcuate side members having convex inner sides, two double-conical map rollers journalled in the end walls outside o1c the side members, a polished plate fixed to the under side of the side members, illuminating means including operating means for the same arranged within the space between the end walls and the side members, the ends of the rollers protruding through the front end wall and being provided with operating knobs and grooved pulleys, similar grooved pulleys journalled onv studs on the front end wall, the grooves in said grooved pulleys be ing arranged to receive in pairs an endless yband in the form of slightly tensioned rubber rings.

5. A map-display device comprising a trame including two end walls and two side members having rounded ott and arcuated upper edges, map rollers journalled in the on the inner sides of the end walls inwardly of and near the side members, a corner of the polished plate being cut and bent to form 'a a housing for a dry battery arranged to supply current to the lamps.

7. A map-display device comprising a frame lincluding two end walls and two arcuate side members having convex inner sides, ,two map rollers journalled inthe end walls outside of the side members, a polished plate fixed to the under side of the side members, illuminating vmeans including operating means for the same arranged within the space between the end walls and the side members, the ends of the rollers protruding through the front end wall' and being provided with operating knobs and grooved pulleys, similar grooved pulleys journalled on studs on the front end wall, the grooves in said grooved pulleys being arranged to receive in pairs an endlessband'in the form of slightly tensioned rubber rings.

f In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication.

svEN WILLIAM NsoN wirmnuu.y 

